Position-determining actuator
A position-determining actuator includes a rod, a barrel, a wave detector, and a controller. The barrel at least partially surrounds a piston of the rod so as to define a cap-side void and allow the rod to telescope relative to the barrel. The wave detector is associated with the cap-side void and configured to read fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid disposed in the cap-side void. The controller is configured to receive, from the wave detector, a pressure reading from within the cap-side void; analyze the pressure reading to determine an extension standing wave; and analyze the extension standing wave to determine an extension dimension of the cap-side void.
1. A position-determining actuator comprising:
a rod having a piston;
a barrel at least partially surrounding the piston so as to define a cap-side void and allow the rod to telescope relative to the barrel;
a wave detector associated with the cap-side void and configured to read fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid disposed in the cap-side void;
a controller configured to—
receive, from the wave detector, a pressure reading from within the cap-side void;
analyze the pressure reading to determine an extension standing wave; and
analyze the extension standing wave to determine an extension dimension of the cap-side void.
2. The position-determining actuator of claim 1 , wherein determining the extension standing wave is performed by:
determining a total wave based upon a prolonged pressure reading;
extracting the extension standing wave from the total wave; and
extracting a diametric standing wave from the total wave,
wherein the diametric standing wave is identified based upon the barrel having a static interior diameter.
3. The position-determining actuator of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a temperature of the hydraulic fluid based at least in part on the diametric standing wave,
wherein determination of the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is further based at least in part on the barrel having the static interior diameter such that variations in the diametric standing wave are correlated to variations in temperature of the hydraulic fluid.
4. The position-determining actuator of claim 3 , wherein said step of determining the extension dimension is based at least in part on said temperature of the hydraulic fluid.
5. The position-determining actuator of claim 1 , further comprising:
an agitator 116 configured to induce a wave into the hydraulic fluid.
6. The position-determining actuator of claim 5 , wherein the agitator 116 induces the wave by imparting a force on an exterior side of the barrel.
7. The position-determining actuator of claim 5 , wherein the agitator 116 is a load-holding valve 118 that is configured to hold a certain extension dimension.
8. The position-determining actuator of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the load-holding valve 118 to activate so as to induce said wave into the hydraulic fluid.
9. A position-determining actuator system comprising:
a wave detector configured to be secured to a barrel of a hydraulic cylinder,
wherein the wave detector is configured to read fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid disposed in a cap-side void of the hydraulic cylinder;
a controller configured to—
receive, from the wave detector, a pressure reading from within the cap-side void;
analyze the pressure reading to determine an extension standing wave; and
analyze the extension standing wave to determine an extension dimension of the cap-side void.
10. The position-determining actuator system of claim 9 , wherein determining the extension standing wave is performed by:
determining a total wave based upon a prolonged pressure reading;
extracting the extension standing wave from the total wave; and
extracting a diametric standing wave from the total wave,
wherein the diametric standing wave is identified based upon the barrel having a static interior diameter.
11. The position-determining actuator system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a temperature of the hydraulic fluid based at least in part on the diametric standing wave,
wherein determination of the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is further based at least in part on the barrel having the static interior diameter such that variations in the diametric standing wave are correlated to variations in temperature of the hydraulic fluid,
wherein said step of determining the extension dimension is based at least in part on said temperature of the hydraulic fluid.
12. The position-determining actuator system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an agitator 116 configured to induce a wave into the hydraulic fluid.
13. The position-determining actuator system of claim 12 ,
wherein the agitator 116 is a load-holding valve 118 that is configured to hold a certain extension dimension,
wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the load-holding valve 118 to activate so as to induce said wave into the hydraulic fluid.
14. The position-determining actuator system of claim 9 , wherein the wave detector includes—
a sensor face 114 configured to be placed in contact with the hydraulic fluid within the void,
a communication wire configured to transmit the pressure reading to the controller.
15. The position-determining actuator system of claim 14 , wherein the wave detector further includes—
a threaded segment configured to be inserted into a threaded hole of the barrel, such that the wave detector can be added to an existing barrel.